Live Dungeon!

Although the party had technically undergone a lineup change, only Xeno and Daryl had been swapped, so the impact on their coordination was minimal. Daryl had gotten too used to working with a Channeler’s style, perhaps, but for better or worse, he was a straightforward boy who could be course-corrected in no time. As for Xeno, with Pico acting as his advisor, he was not likely to become a liability either.

"You’re getting the hang of it," Tsutomu said. "Just make sure you don’t fall too far behind Garm, yeah?"

"Come on, I’m not exactly a miracle worker, you know…" Daryl replied with a sheepish grin.

So far, Tsutomu’s expectations were mostly on point. Daryl had started by mimicking Garm’s movements, using him as a model, and gradually began adapting to the party’s rhythm. Korinna and her group, too, had moved on to the ninety-ninth layer, which meant no major issues had surfaced on her end.

"Try not to copy me too much," Garm grumbled.

"Huh…?"

The contrast between the two Cynokins was stark: Daryl’s droopy ears hung low while Garm’s were perked up in irritation, as if trying to shake off a growing sense of unease. His clipped responses and subtle aloofness made him seem like an older brother suddenly growing cold to a younger sibling, leaving Daryl looking around as though searching for their parents.

"I feel like I can move better during [," Amy chimed in brightly. "Y’know, in the middle of [!"

"……"